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Helpful How-Tos & DIYs • Tips & Techniques • Info & Inspo

Projects from our Paint & Design Studio in Australia. Inspirational and instructional how-to tips on chalk, milk and mineral paint as well as refinishing furniture, upcycling and before and after projects!

Perhaps you've spotted one in a second hand shopbut weren't confident it was worth the effort.Or you have one stashed in the garage or shed.Maybe you even have one hanging in your home,that you just don't like!

Chandeliers are one of those DIY projectsyou can make entirely your own and creategenuine impact at the same time.

Old World Clay & Chalk Paint (or similar authentic chalk-based paint)is my go-to for painting what ​can be a difficult surface like a chandelier.

I fell a bit in love with this super heavy solid brass lamp that was marked down to $3 at the local Goodwill.

What a perfect opportunity for a painted decor update to demonstrate the amazing coverage and durability of Old World Paint.

Yes, please! SOLD!

Before: A $3 brass lamp in need of some paint love!

In good working order, just dirty and dusty and in need of love!

Sometimes knowing the "feel" you want a piece to have can be of great help in selecting a colour (especially when Old World Paint has more than 50 to choose from!)

I knew I wanted a bright, happy shade . . .

I narrowed it down to Coral Reef and Lemon Drop — each would transform the lamp wonderfully!

Choice, choices! So many colours!

I LOVE Coral Reef and I would paint something with it every day if I could, but I saw my opportunity to sneak yellow into my world (oh yes...I'm definitely keeping this beauty). I have a husband that just doesn't love yellow. How can that be?

My life needs a little lightening and brightening, so I'm slowly working on making my home a little less rustic.

The walls recently went from a linen-like shade of green to a warm white (something I've been trying to do for three years!). But most of the soft furnishings are earthy and vintage. After painting the walls and trim (with a deliciously safe and natural paint I will share with you soon), I took a look at the wall sconces.

Faux antlers made from metal, they have been livin' large in my dining area for about nine years. There is a matching chandelier as well. I honestly love it no less now than the day I found it buried in the back corner of a shop and reduced to clear.

Yes, the antler trend came, is hanging on — and I will not care when it's gone. This spoke to me then and I love it still. BUT I see this as an opportunity...

My home is an explosion of colour. There's colour everywhere. And frankly, I love it.

Except my bedroom. It's my nemesis room. I never get it quite right.

So when I told this to a fabulously-gorgeous-wonderfully-kind-and-immensely-talented friend as I admired her stunning and peaceful bedroom in her perfectly-styled vintage home, she told me something in many ways I already knew, but needed to hear. (You know that way that only friends have?)

She said keep it calm, keep it neutral, add your pops of colour. I'm simplifying here, but it resonated. Because my home is a riot of delicious colour, I kept trying to carry that into the bedroom...and it never took.

This brings me to our beautiful metal headboard that I still love after all these years. It's been stashed in a shed for awhile but the chat with my friend had me dragging it out over the weekend.